Windscreen wiper device

ABSTRACT

A windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type, particularly for automobiles, comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal groove, in which groove a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which wiper blade comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein the oscillating arm near one end thereof is pivotally connected to the wiper blade and near the other end thereof is connected to a mounting head on a drive shaft for transferring a reciprocal movement to the wiper blade, with the special feature that the connecting device comprises at least two opposing spaced-apart sidewalls each comprising a protrusion extending sidewardly and outwardly, wherein the connecting device and the oscillating arm are interconnected by the protrusions pivotally and snappingly engaging into correspondingly shaped recesses of the oscillating arm, wherein the oscillating arm comprises a downwardly extending guiding tongue engaging into a guiding groove of the connecting device defined between the sidewalls thereof, and wherein the connecting device has an asymmetric form with respect to its middle transverse plane, seen in vertical direction, in order to ensure that the wiper blade can only be mounted on the oscillating arm in a predetermined orientation of the wiper blade relative to the oscillating arm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a windscreen wiper device of the flatblade type, particularly for automobiles, comprising an elastic,elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of aflexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen tobe wiped, which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal groove,in which groove a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed,which wiper blade comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm,wherein the oscillating arm near one end thereof is pivotally connectedto the wiper blade and near the other end thereof is connected to amounting head on a drive shaft for transferring a reciprocal movement tothe wiper blade.

The present invention also refers to a single wiper blade, as well as toa single connecting device arranged to be used in a windscreen wiperdevice in accordance with the present invention.

Free ends of the strip or “flexor” are preferably connected to arespective connecting piece or “end cap”, wherein the wiper blade ispreferably provided with a spoiler or cover at a side thereof facingaway from the windscreen to be wiped.

It is noted that the present invention is not restricted to windscreenwiper devices for cars, but that it also relates to windscreen wiperdevices for rail coaches and all of the (fast) vehicles.

2. Related Art

A windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type is generally known. Theprior art windscreen wiper device is in particular indicated as a “flatblade” or “yokeless blade”, wherein use is no longer made of severalyokes pivotally connected to each other, but wherein the wiper blade isbiased by the carrier element, as a result of which it exhibits aspecific curvature. In practice the oscillating arm is connected to themounting head fixed for rotation to the shaft driven by a small motor.In use, the shaft rotates alternately in a clockwise and in acounter-clockwise sense carrying the mounting head into rotation also,which in turn draws the oscillating arm into rotation and by means ofthe connecting device moves the wiper blade.

A disadvantage of the known windscreen wiper device is the following. Itpractice it has become apparent that, during replacement of a wiperblade of the known windscreen wiper device, the wiper blade may bemounted on the oscillating arm in a reversed manner. More in particular,when in mounted position the wiper blade over a first portion of itslength is covered by the oscillating arm and over a second portion ofits length is provided with a single cover in order to ensure that thewiper blade at least to a large extend is invisible from the outside,during replacement the wiper blade may be mounted in a reverse mannersuch that the cover interferes with the oscillating arm. Further forexample in case of a wiper blade for a rear window of an automobile, thelongitudinal strip may be asymmetric, so that such a reversed mountingof the wiper blade seriously affects the wiping qualities thereof,particularly at high speeds, with all negative consequences involved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a windscreen wiperdevice of the “flat blade” type, wherein it is no longer possible tomount a wiper blade thereof in an adverse manner, particularly in casethe wiper blade over a portion of its length is covered with a singlecover in order to ensure that in mounted position the wiper blade atleast to a large extend is invisible from the outside.

In order to accomplish that objective, a windscreen wiper device of thetype referred to in the introduction is characterized according to theinvention in that the connecting device comprises at least two opposingspaced-apart sidewalls each comprising a protrusion extending sidewardlyand outwardly, wherein the connecting device and the oscillating arm areinterconnected by the protrusions pivotally and snappingly engaging intocorrespondingly shaped recesses of the oscillating arm, wherein theoscillating arm comprises a downwardly extending guiding tongue engaginginto a guiding groove of the connecting device defined between thesidewalls thereof, and wherein the connecting device has an asymmetricform with respect to its middle transverse plane, seen in verticaldirection, in order to ensure that the wiper blade can only be mountedon the oscillating arm in a predetermined orientation of the wiper bladerelative to the oscillating arm. Due to this asymmetric shape of theconnecting device or connector, a so-called “poka yoke” construction isobtained, wherein during replacement a reverse mounting of the wiperblade onto the oscillating arm is made impossible. Particularly, theasymmetric shape does not allow the protrusions to pivotally andsnappingly engage into the recesses of the oscillating arm in an attemptto adversely mount the wiper blade. In other words, the presentinvention prevents clipping the wiper blade onto the oscillating arm ina reverse manner during replacement.

The windscreen wiper device is particularly arranged to be mounted on arear window of the automobile.

In a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordancewith the invention the guiding groove of the connecting device comprisesa transverse rib at a side of the connecting device facing towards themounting head arranged for obtaining the asymmetric form of theconnecting device. In an attempt to mount the wiper blade onto theoscillating arm in a reverse manner during replacement, the guidingtongue would be blocked by the transverse rib to slide inside theguiding groove, so that the protrusions are not allowed to pivotallyengage into the recesses of the oscillating arm through a snappingoperation. Hence, at that occasion the transverse rib functions as astop surface for the guiding tongue of the oscillating arm. Preferably,the transverse rib is a transverse sidewall of the connecting devicedefining the guiding groove.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device accordingto the invention the connecting device comprises an extension at a sideof the connecting device facing away from the mounting head arranged forobtaining the asymmetric form of the connecting device. Again, in anattempt to mount the wiper blade onto the oscillating arm in a reversemanner during replacement, the guiding tongue would be blocked by theextension to slide inside the guiding groove, so that the protrusionsare not allowed to pivotally engage into the recesses of the oscillatingarm through a snapping (or “clipping” operation). In other words, atthat occasion the extension functions as a stop surface for theoscillating arm. Preferably, the extension is a thicker endwall of theconnecting device facing away from the mounting head.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device inaccordance with the invention the connecting device is located insidethe oscillating arm at the location of their interconnection, theconnecting device is thus invisible from the outside in mounted positionthereof. Preferably, the oscillating arm has a ü-shaped cross-section,wherein the guiding tongue extends downwardly from a base of theU-shaped cross-section.

The invention also refers to an elongated wiper blade of a flexiblematerial, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped,which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal groove, in whichgroove a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, whichwiper blade comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm,characterized in that the connecting device comprises at least twoopposing spaced-apart sidewalls each comprising a protrusion extendingsidewardly and outwardly, wherein the connecting device can be connectedto the oscillating arm by the protrusions pivotally and snappinglyengaging into correspondingly shaped recesses of the oscillating arm,wherein the connecting device comprises a guiding groove defined betweenthe sidewalls thereof and arranged for receiving a downwardly extendingguiding tongue of the oscillating arm, and wherein the connecting devicehas an asymmetric form with respect to its middle transverse plane, seenin vertical direction, in order to ensure that the wiper blade can onlybe mounted on the oscillating arm in a predetermined orientation of thewiper blade relative to the oscillating arm.

The present invention is also related to a connecting device for awindscreen wiper device of the flat blade type, particularly forautomobiles, comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as wellas an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placedin abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes atleast one longitudinal groove, in which groove a longitudinal strip ofthe carrier element is disposed, which connecting device is arranged forinterconnecting the wiper blade and an oscillating arm, characterized inthat the connecting device comprises at least two opposing spaced-apartsidewalk each comprising a protrusion extending sidewardly andoutwardly, wherein the connecting device can be connected to theoscillating arm y the protrusions pivotally and snappingly engaging intocorrespondingly shaped recesses of the oscillating arm, wherein theconnecting device comprises a guiding groove defined between thesidewalls thereof and arranged for receiving a downwardly extendingguiding tongue of the oscillating arm, and wherein the connecting devicehas an asymmetric form with respect to its middle transverse plane, seenin vertical direction, in order to ensure that the wiper blade can onlybe mounted on the oscillating arm in a predetermined orientation of thewiper blade relative to the oscillating arm. Preferably, the connectingdevice is made in one piece of plastic. In another preferred embodimentthe connecting device is made of metal, such as steel or aluminum.

THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference tofigures illustrated in a drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a total perspective, schematic view of a windscreen wiperdevice according to the prior art;

FIG. 2A-2D shows cross-sectional views of a wiper blade and anoscillating arm (partly shown) used in a

windscreen wiper device of FIG. 1, wherein it is shown that both acorrect and adverse interconnection of the wiper blade and theoscillating arm is possible in the prior art;

FIG. 3A-3D corresponds to FIG. 2A-2D, but now referring to a connectingdevice in a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, as usedin the windscreen wiper device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A-4D corresponds to FIG. 2A-2D, but now referring to a connectingdevice in a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, asused in the windscreen wiper device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective, schematic view of a wiper blade with aconnecting device according to the prior art;

FIGS. 6 and 7 correspond to FIG. 5, but referring to a connecting devicein the first and second preferred embodiment, respectively; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective, schematic view of the oscillating arm of FIGS.1 through 4, seen from below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a windscreen wiper device 1 according to the priorart the windscreen wiper device 1 is built up of an elastomeric wiperblade 2, in the longitudinal sides of which opposing longitudinalgrooves 3 are formed, and of longitudinal strips 4 made of spring bandsteel, which are fitted in the longitudinal grooves 3, the strips 4 forma flexible carrier element for the rubber wiper blade 2, as it were,which is thus biased in a curved position (the curvature in operativeposition being that of a windscreen to be wiped). Neighboring ends 5 ofstrips 4 are interconnected on either side of the windscreen wiperdevice 1 by means of connecting pieces 6 or end caps functioning asclamping members. In this embodiment, the connecting pieces 6 areseparate constructional elements, which may be form-locked as well asforce-locked to the ends 5 of strips 4.

The windscreen wiper device 1 is further more built up of a connectingdevice 7 of plastic or metallic material for an oscillating wiper arm 8.Connecting device 7 comprises clamping members 9 that are integraltherewith, which engage round longitudinal sides of the strips 4 thatface away from each other, as a result of which the connecting device 7is firmly attached to the unit consisting of wiper blade 2 and strips 4.The oscillating wiper arm 8 is pivotally connected to the connectingdevice 7 about a pivot axis near one end. Further, the oscillating arm 8is connected to a mounting head fixed 10 for rotation to a shaft drivenby a small motor (not shown), In use, the shaft rotates alternately in aclockwise and in a counter-clockwise sense carrying the mounting head 10into rotation also, which in turn draws the oscillating arm 8 intorotation and by means of the connecting device 7 moves the wiper blade2.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the connecting device 7 comprises two opposingsidewalls 11 each having a cylindrical protrusion 12 extending outwardson either side of the connecting device 7. These protrusions 12pivotally engage in identically shaped cylindrical recesses 13 of theoscillating arm 8, the protrusions 12 act as bearing surfaces at thelocation of the pivot axis in order to pivot the oscillating arm 8 aboutthe pivot axis near one end thereof. As shown, the oscillating arm 8comprises a downwardly extending guiding tongue 14 engaging into aguiding groove 15 of the connecting device 7 defined between thesidewalls 11 thereof. Parts of the connecting device 7 according to theprior art acting in articulation are symmetric with respect to itsmiddle transverse plane, seen in vertical direction. Accordingly, thewiper blade 2 with the connecting device 7 attached thereto may bemounted on the oscillating arm 8 in both correct position (FIGS. 2a en 2b) and reverse position (FIGS. 2c and 2d ), as far as a cover isconcerned covering the wiper blade 2 over a portion of the length of thewiper blade 2 where the oscillating arm 8 is not present.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 parts of the windscreen wiper device 1 according to theinvention that correspond to those depicted in FIG. 2 according to theprior art are designated with the same reference numerals. FIGS. 3a, 3b, as well as FIGS. 4a, 4b refer to correctly mounting the wiper blade 2onto the oscillating arm 8, while FIGS. 3c, 3d and FIGS. 4c, 4d relatingto the forbidden reverse mounting thereof.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, a transverse rib 16 inside the guiding groove15 prevents the reverse mounting of the wiper blade 2. In other words,in that case the transverse rib 16 blocks the guiding tongue 14 to slideinside the guiding groove 15, so that the protrusions 12 are not allowedto pivotally engage into the recesses 13 of the oscillating arm 8through a snapping operation. This is due to the asymmetric form of theconnecting device 7 with respect to its middle transverse plane, seen invertical direction.

In FIG. 4 an extension 17 ensures blocking of the guiding tongue 14 toslide inside the guiding groove 15 in an attempt to adversely mount thewiper blade 2, so that the protrusions 12 are not allowed to pivotallyengage into the recesses 13 of the oscillating arm through a clippingoperation. In other words, at that occasion the extension 17 functionsas a stop surface for the oscillating arm 8. As shown, the extension isa thicker endwall of the connecting device 7 facing away from themounting head 10.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a wiper blade 2 with a symmetricconnecting device 7 according to the prior art, wherein partscorresponding with parts of previous figures are designated with thesame reference numerals.

FIGS. 6 and 7 correspond to FIG. 5, but clearly showing the transverserib 17 and the extension 17, respectively, ensuring that the wiper blade2 and the connecting device 7 attached thereto cannot be mounted to theoscillating arm 8 in FIG. 8 in a reverse manner.

FIG. 8 shows the oscillating arm 8 of FIGS. 1 through 4 in perspective,seen from below, clearly showing the guiding tongue 14 to be inserted inthe guiding groove 5 of the connecting device 7 of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

The invention is not restricted to the variants shown, but extends alsoto other preferred embodiments falling within the scope of the appendedclaims. A skilled person, for example, would appreciate that also othermeasures are available to give the connecting device 7 an asymmetricshape.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A windscreen wiper device of the flat bladetype, particularly for automobiles, comprising an elastic, elongatedcarrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexiblematerial, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped,which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal groove, in whichgroove a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, whichwiper blade comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm,wherein said oscillating arm near one end thereof is pivotally connectedto said wiper blade and near the other end thereof is connected to amounting head on a drive shaft for transferring a reciprocal movement tosaid wiper blade, said connecting device comprises at least two opposingspaced-apart sidewalls each comprising a protrusion extending sidewardlyand outwardly, wherein said connecting device and said oscillating armare interconnected by said protrusions pivotally and snappingly engaginginto correspondingly shaped recesses of said oscillating arm, whereinsaid oscillating arm comprises a downwardly extending guiding tongueengaging into a guiding groove of said connecting device defined betweensaid sidewalls thereof and defined by a bottom, and wherein said guidinggroove has an asymmetric form with respect to a middle transverse planeof said connecting device, seen in a vertical direction, and wherein atransverse rib is provided in said guiding groove and extending upwardlyfrom said bottom of said guiding groove in order to ensure that saidwiper blade can only be mounted on said oscillating arm in apredetermined orientation of said wiper blade relative to saidoscillating arm.
 2. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1,wherein said transverse rib is located on a side of said connectingdevice facing towards said mounting head.
 3. The windscreen wiper deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said connecting device comprises anextension at a side of said connecting device facing away from saidmounting head arranged for obtaining said asymmetric form of saidconnecting device.
 4. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1,wherein said connecting device is located inside said oscillating arm atthe location of their interconnection.
 5. The windscreen wiper deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said oscillating arm has a U-shapedcross-section, and wherein said guiding tongue extends downwardly from abase of said U-shaped cross-section.